Bhutan 7 Day Heritage Tour of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Wangdue

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Paro
3 stops
1
Paro International Airport
Your Arise Bhutan guide and driver will greet you at Paro International Airport arrivals hall with a traditional Khadar (ceremonial scarf) welcome. Enjoy dramatic Himalayan views on the descent into Paro — widely considered one of the most scenic airport landings in the world.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
2
Ta Dzong
Explore the National Museum, housed in the historic round watchtower of Ta Dzong above Rinpung Dzong. Its collection of thangka paintings, ancient armour, and natural history exhibits offers a rich introduction to Bhutanese art, history, and culture.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
3
Paro District
Enjoy an evening stroll through Paro Bazaar, the town's main commercial street, browsing local shops for handicrafts, textiles, and everyday Bhutanese life.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Tiger's Nest & Drukgyel Dzong
3 stops
4
Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest Monastery)
Full day centred on Bhutan's most iconic sight. The 4-hour round-trip hike ascends through pine forests draped in prayer flags to Taktsang Monastery at 3,120m — 900 metres of sheer cliff below. Tour the sacred inner shrines and meditation caves.
5 hours • Admission ticket included
5
Paro Taktsang
Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint along the hike, taking in panoramic views of the monastery clinging to the cliffside.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
6
Drukgyel Dzong
Visit the atmospheric ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, a 17th-century fortress built to repel Tibetan invasions, partially destroyed by fire in 1957. On clear days, the ruins frame a striking view of Mount Jomolhari.
50 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Paro to Thimphu
7 stops
7
Simtokha Dzong
Drive into Bhutan's vibrant capital via Simtokha Dzong, the oldest intact fortress in the kingdom, built in 1629. Its walls are covered in intricate Buddhist paintings, and it now houses a school for Buddhist studies.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
8
Buddha Dordenma
Visit the magnificent Buddha Dordenma, a 169-foot gilded bronze statue overlooking the Thimphu valley. Inside, a vast meditation hall houses over 100,000 smaller golden Buddha statues, with sweeping views across the capital.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
9
Tashichho Dzong (Thimpu Dzong)
Explore Tashichho Dzong, the seat of Bhutan's government and summer residence of the Je Khenpo. This whitewashed fortress-monastery blends religious and administrative life under one roof.
50 minutes • Admission ticket included
10
Thimphu Chorten (Memorial Chorten)
Visit the Memorial Chorten, a large white stupa built in memory of Bhutan's third king — a daily gathering place for local elders who walk clockwise around it in prayer.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
11
Folk Heritage Museum Kawajangsa
Step into a traditional three-storey rammed-earth farmhouse turned museum, showcasing rural Bhutanese life through household tools and everyday artifacts.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
12
National Textile Museum
Discover Bhutan's rich weaving traditions and textile artistry, with displays on techniques passed down through generations of Bhutanese weavers.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
13
End the day at the Craft Bazaar, browsing handwoven textiles, wood carvings, and handicrafts from local artisans.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Thimphu to Punakha via Dochu La
4 stops
14
Dochula Pass
Cross Dochu La (3,100m), ringed by 108 memorial chortens built by the Queen Mother. On clear days, the pass offers a panorama of the eastern Himalayan range.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
15
Punakha Dzong
Visit Punakha Dzong, Bhutan's most beautiful fortress, at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers — former capital for over 300 years and site of the 2011 Royal Wedding.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
16
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Walk through rice paddies and along the riverbank to this hilltop temple, built by the Queen Mother, for sweeping panoramic views of Punakha valley.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
17
Punakha Suspension Bridge
Cross one of Bhutan's longest traditional suspension bridges over the Mo Chhu river, strung with prayer flags.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Punakha Valley: Deep Cultural Immersion
4 stops
18
Chimi Lhakhang Temple
Walk across rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, the "Temple of the Divine Madman," built in 1499 in honor of Lama Drukpa Kunley, associated with fertility blessings.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
19
Punakha District
Share a home-cooked lunch with a local family, sampling dishes like ema datshi and red rice — a genuine glimpse into village life.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
20
Punakha District
Watch local archers compete at 145 metres, accompanied by traditional songs, dancing, and good-natured taunting.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
21
Punakha District
Unwind with a traditional hot stone bath, river stones heated over fire and dropped into a herb-infused wooden tub.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Phobjikha Valley & Wangdue Phodrang
5 stops
22
Phobjikha Valley
Drive to the pristine Phobjikha glacial valley, winter home of the endangered Black-Necked Crane (November–March).
1 hour • Admission ticket free
23
Gangtey Monastery
Visit the 17th-century Gangtey Monastery, a significant Nyingma seat perched above the valley.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
24
Black-necked Crane Visitor Centre, Phobjikha
Learn about crane conservation efforts, with exhibits and telescopes for crane-spotting in season.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
25
Walk a scenic stretch through forest and meadows with valley views.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
26
Stop at a scenic viewpoint over Wangdue Dzong, perched above the Pho Chhu river.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Return to Paro & Departure
3 stops
27
Paro District
Enjoy a final scenic drive back through the mountains to Paro.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
28
Paro District
Last-minute souvenir shopping — textiles, prayer flags, incense, and handicrafts.
50 minutes • Admission ticket free
29
Paro International Airport
Transfer to Paro International Airport for departure.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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